Webinar: Sharing your COVID-19 data with the CITF
Transcript of Webinar: Sharing your COVID-19 data with the CITF
Moderator
Dr. Upton Allen, O.ONT., MBBS, MSC, FAAP, FRCPC, HON FRCP (UK), FIDSA
Bastable-Potts Chair in Infectious Diseases Research, Professor, Paediatrics and Institute of Health Policy, Management & Evaluation, Senior Associate Scientist and Chief, Division of Infectious Diseases, The Hospital for Sick Children, Interim Head, Transplant and Regenerative Medicine Centre, Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto
Speakers
• Dr. Timothy Evans, Executive Director, COVID-19 Immunity Task Force
• Dr. Meghan Azad, CHILD Cohort Study (children & parents, Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario)
• Dr. Jonathon Maguire, TARGetKids! (children & parents, Ontario)
• Dr. Manish Sadarangani, The SPRING Study (children, teens, young adults, BC)
• Dr. Kate Zinszer, EnCORE Study (children & teens, teachers, Montreal)
• Dr. Brenda Coleman, COVID-19 Education Study (CCS-2) (education workers, Ontario)
• Dr. Pascal Lavoie, Tracking COVID-19 for Safer Schools (education workers, British Columbia)
• Dr. Jim Kellner, CITF Leadership Group, Leader CITF Pediatric Network
Dr. Timothy EvansCOVID-19 Immunity Task Force
Executive Director
COVID-19 Immunity Task Force mandate
Established by the Government of Canada in April 2020
Mandate:• To support the implementation of relevant research projects
• Aligning studies across Canada
• Seeking to provide useful information to federal, provincial, and territorial decision-makers as they oversee responses to the COVID-19 pandemic to best protect Canadians.
CITF: Priority areas of research
IMMUNE SCIENCE
Understand the nature of
immunity arising from infection
SEROPREVALENCE STUDIES
Assess the extentof SARS-CoV-2 infection across
Canada
IMMUNE TESTING
Develop improved antibody testing
methods
VACCINE SURVEILLANCE
Help monitorthe effectiveness
and safety of vaccines
108 studies
CITF supports studies across Canada
CITF-funded studies:children, parents & teachers
TARGetKids!Dr. Jonathon Maguire
Tracking COVID-19 for Safer SchoolsDr. Pascal Lavoie
EnCORE StudyDr. Kate Zinszer
COVID-19 Education StudyDr. Brenda Coleman
CHILD Cohort StudyDr. Meghan Azad
The SPRING StudyDr. Manish Sadarangani
Unanswered questions regardingSARS-CoV-2 & children
Infection. How many children are infected? Why are they less likely to get seriously ill than older age groups? Why do some children get very sick (MISC-C or Long COVID-19)?
Protection from infection: What are the options for protecting children from infection? Masks? Physical distancing? Shutting down schools, day cares? Keeping parents and teachers infection-free? Vaccination? What are the risks and benefits of these for the child, their parents/families, and their teachers?
With schools open, the Delta variant raging, and vaccines on the doorstep, imperative to try to answer these questions now!!
WinnipegEdmontonToronto
Vancouver
Kristin, 8 years old, Richmond, BC
Dr. Meghan AzadAssociate Professor, Pediatrics and Child
Health at the University of Manitoba
Research Scientist at the Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba
Manitoba Deputy Director for the CHILD Cohort Study
11
How does all of “this” (i.e. lifetime of exposures
& experiences)influence COVID-19?
pandemic stress/resilience?
CHILD COVID-19 Research
13
Study Population & COVID-19 Cases (Sept 2021)Cases determined using serological blood analysis and self-report (biweekly and quarterly questionnaires)
Num
ber
of
Part
icip
ants
Age of Participants
2.92.2
3.3
1.4
3.2
4.0
5.5
2.0
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
Toronto Winnipeg Edmonton Vancouver
Prev
alen
ce (%
)
ChildrenAdults
N=153 (2.9%)
5,378 Participants
living in 1,462 Households
14
Changes in children’s daily routines0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Eating
Sleeping
Physical activity
Spending time outside
Spending time with friends in-person
Spending time with friends remotely
Using media for school
Using media for non-school reasons
Less Same Amount More
15
Children's* Perceptions or a child’s parents, on behalf of the child
19% worried about mental health
15% moderately to very anxious
29% irritable or easily angered
32% restless or fidgety
Parent report, n=1079 | Child report, n=764
18% lonelyYoussof, 9 years old, Vancouver, BC
*
16
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Other
More time with friends
Healthier eating
New hobbies
More exercising
More time with family
Saving MoneyImproved Relationships
More Free TimeImproved Mental Health
Improved Work EnvironmentImproved Technology SkillsImproved Physical Health
Better School Environment (Avoiding Bullying)New Pets
Parents Reporting any POSITIVE outcomes as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic:
67% (Winnipeg)
71% (Edmonton)
75% (Toronto)
80% (Vancouver)
POSITIVE OUTCOMES resulting from the pandemic
17
What’s Next?Which PUBLIC HEALTH MEASURES are associated with reduced SARS-CoV-2 infection?
COVID-19 VACCINE uptake and hesitancy
Follow-up SEROLOGY Results
Understand the role of SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS on the direct and indirect effects of the COVID-19 pandemic
Linkage with CANUE Data – e.g. Active Living Index
COVID-19 pandemic PSYCHOSOCIAL IMPACTS on Canadian families
18
www.childstudy.ca/covid-rapid-results/
Rilwan Azeez Myrtha Reyna Geoff Winsor Marshall Beck
19
Natalie Rodriguez Nicole Fiorentino Larisa LotoskiKaitlyn Hansen Sarah Turner Rilwan AzeezMerilee Brockway Kelsey Fehr Tricia Choquette
www.azadlab.ca | @MeghanAzad
CollaboratorsLeslie Roos & Emily Cameron (U Manitoba)Terrie Moffitt (Duke University)Jay Onyosko (Public Health Agency of Canada)Shelley Bolotin (Public Health Ontario)David Patrick (BC CDC)Deborah McNeil (Alberta Health Services)Jared Bullard (Manitoba Shared Health)
PJ Subbarao, Aimee Dubeau, Tyler Freitas, Kim WrightMyrtha Reyna, Maria MedeleanuStuart Turvey & Linda Warner (UBC)Piush Mandhane & Joyce Chikuma (U Alberta)Theo Moraes & Yaminee Charavanapavan (SickKids)Elinor Simons & Scarlet Salas (U Manitoba)
Ontario
Dr. Jonathon MaguireProfessor, Department of Pediatrics,
University of Toronto
Pediatrician, Department of Pediatrics,St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health Toronto
22
Visit us at www.targetkids.ca
The largest primary care research network in Canada
Ongoing longitudinal data collection at well-child visits
Over 11,500 children and their parents enrolled since 2008
14 large practices across GTA, Montreal and Kingston
23
COVID-19 Hot Spots by Neighborhood
24
Objectives
How does COVID-19 infection and vaccination impact health, well-being, and learning in children and their families?
• Serology tests for children and parents
• Vaccination for children and parents
• Surveys:Child’s health, health behaviours, and wellbeingCompliance with mitigation strategies (social distancing, wearing masks, hand washing etc.)Stress and well-being of both the child and parentSchool and learning
25
TARGet Kids!COVID-19 Study of Children and Families
• Launched April 2020
• 1021 families, 1345 children
• 593 COVID-19 serology tests
• >10,000 surveys completed
26
TARGet Kids! COVID-19 study population
Age (y) Unpublished data
27
COVID-19 Seropositivity
12.6% seropositive parents
2.8% seropositive children
April 2020 - July 2021
Unpublished data
28
COVID-19 Vaccination
April 2020 - July 2021
10.6% of parent's 1stdose
3.4% of parent's 2nd
dose
0% of children received COVID-19 vaccine
Unpublished data
29
“I am convinced of the importance of COVID-19 vaccines”
Unconvinced3% Themselves
8% Their children
Unpublished data
30
Adherence to public health guidelines
30
Parents Children
Day
s pe
r w
eek
Can J Public Health. 2021 Aug;112(4):552-565.
31
How has the Pandemic has affected children and families?
• Socio-economic factors affected families’ ability to follow public health guidelines
• Adherence to public health guidelines:Lower outdoor playtimeHigher screen time
• Social isolation impacted children’swell-being
Can J Public Health. 2021 Aug;112(4):552-565Can J Public Health 2021 Jul 7:1-11
Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2021 Feb 26;1-14
32
Screen time
Mean daily screen time 2.8h
Screen time Irritability children 2-11Hyperactivity children 4-11
Video game time Hyperactivity children 4-11
E-learning Hyperactivity children 4-11
Unpublished data
3333
75% in person learning
25% remote learning
In-person learning Remote learning
Income gradient
COVID-19 School Impacts
Unpublished data
34
TARGet Kids! LeadsDr. Catherine BirkenDr. Jonathon Maguire
Site Investigators:Dr. Jillian Baker Dr. Tony BarozzinoDr. Nicholas BlanchetteDr. Joey BonifacioDr. Douglas Campbell Dr. Sohail Cheema Dr. Brian ChisamoreDr. Karoon DanayanDr. Paul Das Dr. Mary Beth DerocherDr. Anh DoDr. Michael Dorey Dr. Sloane Freeman Dr. Keewai Fung Dr. Donna GoldenbergDr. Charlie GuiangDr. Curtis HandfordDr. Hailey Hatch Dr. Sheila JacobsonDr. Lukasz JagielloDr. Tara KiranDr. Holly Knowles Dr. Bruce Kwok Dr. Sheila LakhooDr. Margarita Lam-AntoniadesDr. Eddy Lau
Dr. Fok-Han LeungDr. Jennifer Loo Dr. Sarah MahmoudDr. Rosemary MoodieDr. Sharon NaymarkDr. Patricia NeelandsDr. James OwenDr. Michael Peer Dr. Marty PerlmutarDr. Andrew PintoDr. Michelle PorepaDr. Nasreen RamjiDr. Noor RamjiDr. Alana Rosenthal Dr. Janet SaundersonDr. Rahul SaxenaDr. Michael SgroDr. Hafiz ShujaDr. Susan Shepherd Dr. Barbara SmiltnieksDr. Carolyn TaylorDr. Thea WeisdorfDr. Sheila WijayasingheDr. Peter WongDr. Ethel YingDr. Elizabeth YoungDr. Michael ZajdmanDr. Carolyn CalpinDr. Leah Harrington
Research Manager:Dalah Mason
Research Coordinators:Natricha Levy McFarlaneMateenah Jaleel
Research Assistants:Tarandeep MalhiLaurie ThompsonJulia ThompsonMarvic BustosPamela A. FloresSharon Thadani
Steering Committee:Dr. Michael SalterDr. Andreas LaupacisDr. Peter SzatmariDr. Eddie LauDr. Patricia Parkin
Research Analysts:Xuedi LiYulika Yoshida-Montezuma
Biostatistician:Charlie Keown-Stoneman
Patient Engagement Specialist:Dana Arafeh
Parent Partners:Erika TavaresJennifer ChanJulie SkeldingRafael SalsaShannon Weir
Applied Health Research CentreDr. Peter JuniProf Kevin ThorpeChristopher Allen
Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum RI:Dr. Anne-Claud GringasKaren Colweill
Trainees:Dr. Jessica OmandDr. Shelley VanderhoutDr. Anne FullerDr. Laura KinlinMary AglipayCurtis D’Hollander
Thank you to all participatingfamilies for their time andinvolvement in TARGet Kids!
Study Team
TheSPRING Study
Dr. Manish SadaranganiDirector, Vaccine Evaluation Center,
BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute
Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, University of British ColumbiaBritish Columbia
The Spring Study 37
The SPRING Study
Severe acute resPiratory syndrome-Related coronavirus 2 prevalence In children and youNG adults in British Columbia: an observational study
The SPRING Study 38
Study design• 4 separate cross-sectional snapshots over a 12-18 month period• Longitudinal follow-up of COVID-19 positive cases• Mostly healthy children• Aim to be representative across BC in terms of geographic distribution, sex and
ethnicity
• Samples: dried blood spots; MSD V-Plex pan-CoV panel
Inclusion:Parent/legal guardian/participant is willing and able to give informed consent and/or assentAge <25 yearsResident in BC
Exclusion:No specific exclusion criteria
The Spring Study 39
Data collection
The SPRING Study 40
Snapshot #1
• Snapshot #2 currently in progress
10th November 2020 – 2nd March 2021
Target sample size 2,500 (n=500 per 5-year age band)0-4, 5-9, 10-14, 15-19, 20-24 years
Enrolled 2,535 (n ≥500 per 5-year age band)
Samples tested2,131
Samples collected November 27th 2020 – May 21st 2021Mostly Jan – Mar 2021
The Spring Study 41
Age-specific analysis
UNPUBLISHED DATA. CONFIDENTIAL. DO NOT COPY, SHARE OR DISTRIBUTE.
The Spring Study 42
Vaccine confidence
• 2,405 parents/children (Dec 2020 – Mar 2021)76% intended to receive a COVID-19 vaccine7% did not
• Key facilitators to increase vaccine confidenceFocus on vaccine safety and benefitsLeverage trusted voices (BC Provincial Health Officer)Encourage individuals to promote vaccination among friends/social networks
UNPUBLISHED DATA. CONFIDENTIAL. DO NOT COPY, SHARE OR DISTRIBUTE.
The SPRING Study 43
Vaccine confidence
UNPUBLISHED DATA. CONFIDENTIAL. DO NOT COPY, SHARE OR DISTRIBUTE.
The Spring Study 44
Study teamName Institute
Manish Sadarangani (PI)
Vaccine Evaluation Center (VEC), BC Children’s Hospital (BCCH)Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia (UBC)
Bahaa Abu-RayaJulie BettingerAdriana CabreraVivek GillLaura SauveSarah SilverbergDavid Goldfarb Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, BCCH; UBCSofia Bartlett
Public Health Laboratory, BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC)Agatha JassemMel KrajdenMuhammad MorshedInna SekirovDanuta Skowronski Influenza & Emerging Respiratory Pathogens Lead, BCCDC
Daniel Coombs Department of Mathematics, UBC
Soren Gantt VEC, BCCH; Centre de recherche du CHU Sainte-Justine, Montreal
Montreal
Dr. Kate ZinszerAssistant Professor at l’École de santé
publique, Université de MontréalResearcher at the Centre for Public
Health Research
46
Estimating seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in children and staff members from selected schools of 4 Montreal neighborhoods.
Study objective:
Children 2 – 17 years oldRound 1 collection: Oct 2020 – Mar 2021Round 2 collection: May 2021 – Aug 2021
School and daycare staffMar 2021 – Aug 2021
EnCORE
47
Participation consisted of:
Completing an online questionnaire& at-home dried-blood-spot (DBS) collections
Methods
48
Seroprevalence by age category for each study round
Round 1 (n=1,632)
Round 2 (n=893)
7.6%
2-4 5-11 12+
15%
10%
5%
0%
11.9%
10.1%
4.9%5.8%
Overall antibody seroprevalence due to infection 10.1% from latest round, compared to 5.8%
in the first round of collection
Seroconversion (n=842)
Positive seroconversion 6.9%
Negative seroconversion 5.5%
Children and adolescents (age 2-17)
49
Children and adolescents (age 2-17)
Estimated study seroprevalence over time and comparedto overall daily confirmed COVID-19 cases in Quebec,March 2020 to May 2021
Household membersof seropositive children
ROUND 1 ROUND 2*
Number participating 202 111
Number of samples 202 45
Antibody seroprevalence 11.9% 6.7%
*Only household members of newly seropositive children were eligible to participate.
Seroprevalence
50
Children and adolescents (age 2-17)
Ethnicity/race (2.0, 95% CI 1.04-2.95) and place of birth (1.78, 95% CI 1.01-2.55) significantly associated with vaccine hesitancy
Likelihood that parent will get their child vaccinated (n=809)
I don't think there is enough information about the vaccine
I am concerned about side effects of the vaccine
If my child gets COVID-19, they won't get seriously ill
Top reasons that parents were unlikely to vaccinate their child against COVID-19:
Vaccine acceptance and hesitancy
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Adolescents' emotions over the past 2 weeks, self-reported and parentally-assessed (n=198)
Compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic, amount of time spent (n=1,901)
>90 minutes of social media use significantly associated with psychological distress (1.71, 95% 1.05-2.77)
Children and adolescents (age 2-17)
Lifestyle & emotions
52
71% 17%
0% 20% 40% 60%
I feel used up at the end of the workday
I feel emotionally drained from my work
I feel fatigued when I wake up and have to face another day at work
I feel burnt out from my job
Antibody seroprevalence by workplace (n=360)
Daycare Primary Secondary
10%
7,5%
5%
2,5%
0%
8.3%10.0%
3.3%
Vaccine acceptance(latest available data, n=382)
Overall seroprevalence: 7.2%
Staff burnout (n=382)Proportion of staff who experienced these thoughts at least once per week
2+ doses
1 dose
Not known to be vaccinated12%
School and daycare staff
53
• Seroprevalence increasing in time for children and teens• IgG waning over time• Increased risk of seroprevalence and vaccine hesitancy associated with visible minority status of
parent• Daycare and primary school staff had higher levels of seroprevalence compared to children• High levels of vaccine acceptance in study population• Less physically active, less time outdoors, more time online• Detrimental impact of social media use• Next steps:
3rd round of data collection for October-DecemberVaccine-hesitancy project in Montreal to improve inequities in vaccine acceptanceEnhanced follow-up of a subset of seropositive children
Conclusions
54
Laura PierceAdrien SaucierNoémie BourqueIslem CherietMargot Barbosa Da Torre
CollaboratorsCat Tuong NguyenIsabelle LaurinNathalie Ratté
Co-InvestigatorsBritt McKinnonCaroline Quach (co-PI)Jesse PapenburgGuy BoivinGaston De SerresMarie-Éve HamlinPatricia ConrodMonica Zahreddine
AcknowledgementsChildren and parents of EnCORE, daycares, schools, and school boards
Partners
Funded by
Study of the epidemiology of COVID-19 in [Ontario] teachers and education
workers
Ontario
Dr. Brenda ColemanResearcher at Sinai Health System in
Toronto and Assistant Professor, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto
Study of the epidemiology of
COVID-19 in teachers and
education workers
57Study of the epidemiology of COVID-19 in [Ontario] teachers and education workers
Background
ObjectivesIncidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection (symptomatic and asymptomatic)Workplace, community, household, and individual risk factors associated with infectionPsychological impact of working during a pandemicDescribe changes in anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodiesIntent to be vaccinatedIncidence of re-infectionIf vaccines available: vaccine effectiveness estimates
Recruitment start: February 18, 2021Number consented as of September 10: 3,429
58Study of the epidemiology of COVID-19 in [Ontario] teachers and education workers
Methods
• Eligibility: education workers, aged 18-74, who work for ≥8 hours/week for an Ontario school or school board
• Online questionnaires completed at enrollment, every 2nd week (for time-varying exposures), if/when symptomatic or tested for COVID, & every quarter (K-10)
• Dried blood spot samples collected at enrollment, ≤48hrs before COVID-19 vaccine, 30 days (±10) after 2nd dose, and every 13 weeks thereafter
• Samples tested at the National Microbiology Lab for IgG antibodies to spike (S1), receptor binding domain (RBD) of the spike, and nucleocapsid (NP)
59Study of the epidemiology of COVID-19 in [Ontario] teachers and education workers
Interim Results• Objective of interim analysis
To estimate the cumulative incidence of COVID-19 in Ontario’s education workers during the first 18 months of the pandemic and to identify risk and protective factors for COVID-19 in this population (to July 17, 2021)
• 2834 participants: mean of 45 years old; 85% female, 81% teaching position, 59% worked in/for an elementary school, 57% had received two doses of vaccine
• The cumulative incidence of infection was 3.6%
• Risk factors for infection included: exposure to household member with COVID-19 (adult IRR: 13.6; child IRR: 2.3), student with COVID-19 (IRR: 1.9), and travel outside Ontario (IRR: 6.0)
60Study of the epidemiology of COVID-19 in [Ontario] teachers and education workers
Conclusion
Despite high vaccination rates, it is necessary to continue protective practices like mask-wearing, physical distancing, hand hygiene, and cohorting over the next months of the pandemic - including when exposed to close contacts like a household member who has symptoms or is known to have been exposed to someone with COVID-19
61Study of the epidemiology of COVID-19 in [Ontario] teachers and education workers
Study Team
Co-IsRobert Maunder, John Kim, Sharon Straus, Susan Bondy, Allison McGeer
PIBrenda L. Coleman
Funded by
Tracking COVID-19 for Safer Schools
British Columbia
Dr. Pascal LavoieInvestigator at the
BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute
Pediatrician and Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the
University of British Columbia
Tracking COVID-19 for Safer Schools 64
Determine the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among school staff • Three school districts VSB, Delta and Richmond• Serology and questionnaires in school staff• COVID-19 case data from 48,578 students + ∼7,071 staff• Serology in 1556 school staff - Feb 10 - May 15, 2021
Tracking COVID-19 for Safer Schools
Courtesy: Alex Choi, VCH
All COVID-19 cases in Vancouver
Serology testing in school cohort
All cases in Vancouver District schools
Serology testing period
Tracking COVID-19 for Safer Schools 66
Key result #1
High perceived COVID-19 risk among school staff• High perceived risk and mental stress indicators• 1689 school staff surveyed• 363 / 1689 (21.5%) reported close contact (<2 meters; >2 min) with
COVID-19 case• 278 (16.5%) of those close contacts felt to have occurred within
school setting• 24 viral test-confirmed infections• 5 have likely acquired infections in school
Tracking COVID-19 for Safer Schools 67
Key result #2
Considering asymptomatic infections (using serology testing)• 1556 school staff tested• 35 positive serology tests (infected; 46% asymptomatic)
Adjusted seroprevalence = 2.3% of school staff [95%CI 1.6 – 3.2%]
Seroprevalence of 2.6% [95%CI: 2.2 – 3.1%] among a reference blood donor group, weighted geographically, by age, sex and time period (N = 5,417)
Seroprevalence of 4.0% [95%CI: 2.6 – 5.4%] within 643 school staff from the combined Richmond/Delta school districts
68Tracking COVID-19 for Safer Schools
Conclusions
We found no detectable increase in seroprevalence among staff of this school district above a representative sample of blood donors from the same community.
These findings confirm that in-person schooling is possible without significantly increasing risk for school staff in the context of mitigation measures, but widespread community transmission.
Tracking COVID-19 for Safer Schools 69
Vaccine Intention
Vaccine Urgency
“If a vaccine becomes available and is recommended for me, I would get it”
“If I were to get vaccinated, I would get it as soon as it would be available to me”
92.5%
82.4%
Measuring Vaccine Hesitancy “perception”
Key results #3
Key messages: 1. Authority recommendation strongest predictor: Experts (highest), Healthcare providers, Government (lowest)2. People need to understand the Pros & Cons of vaccines (routine & COVID-19)3. Need approaches to counteract misinformation and support health literacy4. Need to educate about susceptibility
Authority Recommendation
Information MistrustAuthority Recommendation
Vaccine Intention Vaccine Urgency
Threat Vaccine Pros Receptivity Threat Vaccine Pros Receptivity
Risk
Acceptance routine Vaccine
Benefits
Susceptibility Risk
Acceptance routine Vaccine
Benefits
Pascal LavoiePrincipal Investigator
Louise MasseCo-Principal Investigator
David GoldfarbCo-Investigator
Viltie BarakauskasCo-Investigator
Allison WattsProject Manager
Else BosemanData Manager
Sarah HutchinsonPost Doctoral Fellow
Lauren MuttucomaroeResearch Coordinator
Tisha MontgomeryResearch Assistant
Kathy O’SullivanVSB Collaborator
Collette O’ReillyVSB Collaborator
Tim OberlanderCo-Investigator
Eva OberleCo-Investigator
Alexandra ChoiVCH Collaborator
Dan CoombsMath modelling
Mike IrvineStatistician
Esther Alonso PrietoNewborn Program
Sadaf SediqiResearch Assistant
Hamid RazzaghianResearch Assistant
Research team
Tracking COVID-19 for Safer Schools 72
Study was funded by the Federal Government of Canada via
Dr. Jim KellnerPediatric Infectious Diseases Specialist,
Professor, Pediatrics, University of Calgary
CITF Leadership Group member
CITF Pediatric Network leader
Key findings: immunity & transmission
• Acquired immune response from COVID-19 infection remains low among Canadian children, so vaccination and mitigation measures such as mask wearing, etc., remain essential.
• Although school staff have feared acquiring COVID-19 infections through school contacts, mitigation measures seem to have workedat least in some settings, as few have been found to have caught the virus at school.
Key findings: mental health & wellbeing
• In-person schooling is better for the health & wellbeing of most children, teens and parents.
• Up to 80% of kids and youth surveyed increased their non-educational screen time during the pandemic: two studies.
• Almost all children and youth spentless time doing physical activity:two studies.
• Parents experienced high levels ofpandemic-induced stress andanxiety: several studies.
Key findings: vaccine confidence
• Most parents and teachers agree that vaccination is important.
• Most parents intended to get their children vaccinated, when vaccines become available to them (if not already).
• Key facilitators to increase vaccine confidence:focus on vaccine safety and benefits, leveragetrusted voices, and encourage individuals topromote vaccination among friends/socialnetworks: SPRING Study
Implications – COVID-19 in children
• Severe COVID-19 infections in children are uncommon
• Low risk of hospitalization, ICU admission and myocarditis
• Extremely low risk of death
• Lower risk (seemingly) of post-COVID conditions
• Where testing is abundant, the proportion of children diagnosed with COVID-19 is proportionate to that of the local population
• In settings where vaccination rates are low and public health measures are not widely in place, the number of children with severe outcomes increases e.g., numerous states in USA
Implications - schools
• Regular school experience was disrupted for >90% of children globally early in the pandemic
• Closures/online schooling have had variable impact since
• Key public health measures vary across Canada this school year:
Vaccination
Masking, handwashing, limited class sizes, reduced mixing and gathering, staggered schedules, increased outdoor teaching, online learning options, ventilation, indoor air filtering, etc.
Approaches to testing, contact tracing, outbreak controls
Implications – Vaccines
• Vaccine uptake by teachers, staff and volunteers, as well as by children and youth aged 12-17 y/o, will influence safety of schools this year
• Children <12 y/o represent ~15% of Canadian population
• Approval and implementation of lower dose mRNA vaccines for children <12 y/o depends on:
Evolving knowledge of benefits vs. risksRegulatory approvalAdvisory recommendationsAvailabilityPublic interest
Policy implications
• Delta & other VOCs = continued mitigation measures necessary
• Although vaccine coverage is very high in Canada, it is uneven, leaving pockets of people not adequately protected.
• Vaccines will be important for children under 12 (roughly 4.9 million Canadians).
• Although intent to vaccinate children was high in these studies, it will be important to continue to monitor vaccine coverage and levels of vaccine-induced immunity to ensure safety for all involved in the educational sector.
Questions?
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COVID-19 Immunity Task Force | Groupe de travail sur l’immunité face à la COVID-19
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